Round: NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race No. 3 of 23
Track Location: Atlanta Motor Speedway – Hampton, Georgia
Race Name: FR8 Auctions 208
Broadcast: Saturday, March 18th at 2:00 PM ET live on FS1 (TV), MRN (Radio), and Sirius XM NASCAR Channel 90
Team Entrants:
No. 23 | Grant Enfinger & Jeff Hensley – Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet No. 24 | Rajah Caruth & Chad Walter – Wendell Scott Foundation Chevrolet No. 43 | Daniel Dye & Travis Sharpe – Heise LED Lighting Systems / Orlando Longwood Auto Auction Chevrolet
Grant Enfinger, No. 23 Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet Silverado RST
Atlanta Motor Speedway Stats
NCTS Starts: 7; Wins: 1 (2020); Best start: 4th; Top 5s: 3; Top 10s: 5; Laps led: 29
2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Season Stats
Starts: 2; Best start: 16th; Best finish: 5th (Daytona); Top 5s: 1; Top 10s: 2; Laps led: 3; Current points position: 6th
About Champion Power Equipment: Since 2003, Champion Power Equipment has earned a reputation for designing and producing the market’s finest power equipment. From our original headquarters in Santa Fe Springs, California, Champion has expanded its North American footprint to include facilities in Jackson, Tennessee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Toronto Canada. Today, Champion’s product line has expanded to include portable generators, home standby generators, inverter generators, engines, winches and log splitters. With over 2.5 million generators sold in North America, Champion is a market leader in the power equipment field. Visit ChampionPowerEquipment.com for more information.
Stacking Points: Enfinger has started the 2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season on a roll, finishing inside the top-10 in both races that have been ran so far. Grant has also scored stage points in all four stages that have been completed, vaulting him to sixth in the championship points standings heading into Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Chassis History/Info: Grant Enfinger and the No. 23 team will compete with GMS Racing chassis no. 344 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The FR8 Auctions 208 will be just the second race that this chassis has been ran in competition, as it debuted at Homestead-Miami Speedway last October. In that event, Enfinger was a consistent front runner up until debris cut down a tire, resulting in a 14th place finish.
Previous Atlanta Winner: In 2020, Grant Enfinger came in clutch on an overtime finish on the old pavement at Atlanta Motor Speedway. In a thrilling last lap-and-a-half pass that saw the veteran go from third to the lead, Enfinger held on to earn his fourth-career NCTS win. Jeff Hensley was the race-winning Crew Chief paired up with Grant for that race as well, as the two were able to steal the show on that day.
GE Appearances: Fans attending the FR8 Auctions 208 will have two opportunities to meet Grant Enfinger on Saturday, March 18th:
Team Chevy Stage: All three GMS Racing drivers will participate in a Q&A session at the Team Chevy stage located in the Atlanta Motor Speedway Fan Zone from 10:15 AM to 10:30 AM local time. NCTS Autograph Session: Grant will sign autographs with the majority of the NCTS field from 10:30 AM to 11:15 AM local time, at the Kids Zone section located in the Atlanta Motor Speedway Fan Zone. - From The Drivers Seat: What are your thoughts on returning to Atlanta’s newly-renovated reconfiguration for the second time around this weekend?
“Atlanta is a lot different since the reconfiguration. It races more like a superspeedway rather than a conventional mile and a half track. With the banking and newer asphalt we will all have a lot of grip which provides for tight racing. We will have to be aggressive on the track and pit road to position ourselves to be upfront for the end. I’m looking forward to this stretch of 5 races in a row. Our Champion Power Equipment team is preparing well, and I feel like GMS Racing has built us some trucks that we can win with.”
Rajah Caruth, No. 24 Wendell Scott Foundation Chevrolet Silverado RST
Atlanta Motor Speedway Stats
Rajah Caruth will be making his first start in any series at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday.
2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Season Stats
Starts: 2; Best start: 17th; Best finish: 29th (twice); Current points position: 18th
About the Wendell Scott Foundation: Founded in 2011, The Wendell Scott Foundation, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization inspired by Wendell Scott, Sr. and provides services such as job-skill training, STEM education opportunities, mentoring, and other supportive services to at-risk, underserved youth between the ages of 8-18 years in Danville, Virginia and surrounding areas.
The Foundation’s mission of using educational attainment to end racial disparities in education and health is vital in addressing economic inequality and improving future success in African-American communities. For more information, please visit www.wendellscott.org.
Chassis History/Info: Caruth and the No. 24 team will compete with GMS Racing chassis no. 347 in Saturday’s event at Atlanta Motor Speedway, debuting a brand new Chevrolet Silverado RST.
Hometown Race: Though he grew up in Washington, D.C., Rajah Caruth was actually born in Atlanta. This is a special race for the young rookie as he will make his first-ever start on the 1.54-mile superspeedway just on the other side of town from where he was born. Caruth will have several local family members in attendance for the race on Saturday.
Sunoco Rookie Battle: Heading into the third race of the season, Caruth finds himself amidst a tight battle for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings. The driver of the No. 24 Chevy was able to earn bonus points in both stages last time out at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and currently sits third place in rookie standings, just five points behind point leader Nick Sanchez.
RC Appearances: Fans attending the FR8 Auctions 208 will have two opportunities to meet Rajah Caruth on Saturday, March 18th:
Team Chevy Stage: All three GMS Racing drivers will participate in a Q&A session at the Team Chevy stage located in the Atlanta Motor Speedway Fan Zone from 10:15 AM to 10:30 AM local time. NCTS Autograph Session: Rajah will sign autographs with the majority of the NCTS field from 10:30 AM to 11:15 AM local time, at the Kids Zone section located in the Atlanta Motor Speedway Fan Zone.
From The Driver’s Seat: Though it hasn’t been quite the start of the year that you had hoped for results wise, you’ve shown some stout speed in both races. What are some of your goals in place for this weekend in Atlanta?
“Definitely, to your point, the results that we’ve had this year haven’t been indicative of our pace. Especially at Las Vegas two weeks ago; where we were running right around the top-10 and earning points in both stages and being right in the mix before green flag stops before we got wrecked. So really, the goals don’t change from week-to-week, at least for me personally, and I would say that the guys on my team agree with me. We work just as hard and treat every race as if it was a playoffs race. The expectations are that we give our best efforts; and that’s what my guys are doing at the shop. I give my best efforts at the shop, and away from the shop, and that’s what I am for sure doing. So hopefully that will set us up for a great race on Saturday in Atlanta, and from there get a good rhythm going, because we have five races in a row. It’s going to be important to have a good tone here and start off this stretch with a bang, so I’m confident in my team and think we can really show out in Atlanta this weekend.”
Daniel Dye, No. 43 Heise LED Lighting Systems / Orlando Longwood Auto Auction Chevrolet Silverado RST
Atlanta Motor Speedway Stats
Daniel Dye will be making his first start in any series at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday.
2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Season Stats
Starts: 2; Best start: 20th; Best finish: 19th (Las Vegas); Laps led: 5; Current points position: 19th
About Heise LED Lighting Systems: Metra Electronics, based close to Florida’s racing hotspot, Daytona Beach, has been “The Installer’s Choice” and a leading manufacturer of mobile electronics for more than 75 years. Metra has continued to design, engineer, and produce the most innovative products in the 12volt industry, while always keeping the installer and end-user in mind. Their wide selection of products are categorized to form a diverse family of brands, each specializing in its own segment of automotive solutions. Their Heise LED brand focuses solely on creating the highest-quality automotive LED lighting available on the market. The brand offers RGB, RGBW, and Chasing products designed to fit a wide range of vehicles, integrated with advanced thermal management, short circuit and open circuit protection, and many other innovative features.
Chassis History/Info: Dye and the No. 43 team will compete with GMS Racing chassis no. 330 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. This chassis originally debuted in 2020, and has seen victory lane once before with Zane Smith at Dover Motor Speedway in that same year. Most recently, Jack Wood drove this Chevrolet at Bristol Motor Speedway last August, where he finished 21st.
Sunoco Rookie Battle: After leading his first ever laps at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last time out, Daniel Dye was able to make up some ground on his Sunoco Rookie of the Year competitors. Dye currently fills the fourth slot in the rookie battle, only six points behind point leader, Nick Sanchez, and one point behind teammate, Rajah Caruth.
DD Appearances: Fans attending the FR8 Auctions 208 will have two opportunities to meet Daniel Dye on Saturday, March 18th:
Team Chevy Stage: All three GMS Racing drivers will participate in a Q&A session at the Team Chevy stage located in the Atlanta Motor Speedway Fan Zone from 10:15 AM to 10:30 AM local time. NCTS Autograph Session: Daniel will sign autographs with the majority of the NCTS field from 10:30 AM to 11:15 AM local time, at the Kids Zone section located in the Atlanta Motor Speedway Fan Zone.
From the Driver’s Seat: You haven’t ever competed at Atlanta Motor Speedway before, but since Daytona is still relatively fresh on your mind, do you think you can take what you learned in that race and apply it to this weekend?
“I think what I learned at Daytona is certainly going to help me to some extent at Atlanta. Obviously, with the track in Atlanta being close to half the size of Daytona, the racing is going to be a little bit different, but it should feel similar since they reconfigured that track to more of a superspeedway feel. You’re definitely going to have to take that into account, but I’m looking forward to it with our Heise LED Chevrolet Silverado RST. We’ve had a little bit of a rough start to our season, but I know everyone on the No. 43 team is going to do their best to get us rolling in the right direction starting with this weekend.”
ABOUT GMS RACING:
GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Truck Series operating the No. 23, No. 24, and No. 43 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs for drivers Grant Enfinger, Rajah Caruth, and Daniel Dye. Since the team was formed in 2012, GMS Racing has won five titles across multiple series, including the 2016 and 2020 NASCAR Truck Series championship, the 2015 ARCA Racing Series championship, as well as the 2019 & 2020 ARCA East championships. GMS has grown to occupy several buildings located in Statesville, N.C. including operations for GMS Fabrication. The GMS Racing campus also houses operations for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, a team that competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow GMS Racing on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Zane Smith and the No. 38 Fr8Auctions.com Ford F-150 team will kickoff the Fr8Auctions.com weekend for Front Row Motorsports (FRM). Smith will compete in Saturday’s Fr8 Auctions 208 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series event at the Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway.
The team will arrive to the track Friday morning for technical inspection and qualifying in the afternoon before Saturday’s race.
Saturday’s race will be televised live on FS1 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
COMPETITION NOTES:
Smith and the No. 38 Fr8Auctions.com Ford F-150 team have come out of the gate strong to start the 2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Smith won at the Daytona International Speedway and finished second to Kyle Busch at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the first two races.
The team has an additional stage win and six playoff points to lead the series.
The team is also atop the regular season points chase by two points.
CREW CHIEF CHRIS LAWSON:
“We wanted to be strong to start the season and we need to continue this start this weekend at Atlanta. The more points we can collect, and especially more playoff points, it will help us later in the season. The best way to do that is to win the race for Fr8 Auctions.”
DRIVER ZANE SMITH:
“This new racing at Atlanta is wild. You are drafting and making moves like Daytona or Talladega. It worked for us at Daytona and hopefully it works again on Saturday.
“We all know at FRM it’s a big weekend for Fr8 Auctions. We’re trying to get them into victory lane at their home track and race.”
ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series team from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.
Mooresville, NC (March 13, 2023) – Sponsorship and the adventure continues for apparel company, Off The Grid Surplus, as it was announced today they will be back as a supporter of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Spencer Boyd. Their first primary race of the season will be at the Atlanta Motor Speedway race on Saturday, March 18, 2023.
Spencer Boyd commented on the renewal, “I’m humbled that Off The Grid is back on board this year. They were our primary (sponsor) at Phoenix last season, but they know motorsports enthusiasts are all over our great country, so I’m excited to have them at Atlanta to kick off their season with our team. As for their gear, I love their stuff! While our crew shirts look like their Thunderbolt shirt, my go-to are their flannels.”
Off The Grid is the motor-driven adventure brand, built to inspire more connection through adventure. They find retreat in motorized adventure, whether it is off-road racing in a Jeep, camping in Baja or connecting around the campfire. They make functional clothing with this lifestyle always front-of-mind hoping to inspire people to get away and connect with each other, person to person.
“The NASCAR fans are great”, noted founder of Off The Grid Surplus, Josh Patterson. “We’ve seen a great response from them and Spencer is a great fit for our brand. I love the diversity of our customers because they span the high banks of NASCAR tracks to the sand of the desert. We were just at King of Hammers to see those guys battle it out so for us it’s about making clothes for people like us.”
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday, March 18, 2023 airs live on FS1 at 1:00pm ET.
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (March 10, 2023) – Niece Motorsports announced today that renowned dirt-racer Tyler Carpenter will return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this season, making his second series start on dirt; this time at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Carpenter will race the No. 41 Chevrolet Silverado with support from Precision Vehicle Logistics, AutoVentive and Worldwide Express.
“I’m really excited for another opportunity to get back behind the wheel of one of these trucks,” said Carpenter. “I’m thankful for the opportunity from Niece Motorsports, Precision Vehicle Logistics, AutoVentive and Worldwide Express. I learned a lot about these trucks last season and definitely feel like we have something to prove this year.”
Last season, Carpenter earned a seat at Knoxville Raceway via Niece Motorsports’ “Win and You’re in” promotion, after winning the Super Late Model feature at The Gateway Dirt Nationals.
Carpenter got up to speed quickly behind the wheel of his Chevrolet Silverado and moved through the field, before a mechanical failure removed him from contention.
“We are thrilled to have Tyler back behind the wheel this season,” said Niece Motorsports General Manager Cody Efaw. “Tyler learned a lot last season at Knoxville in the truck that I think will help him this year at Bristol. We expect that with his vast dirt experience and what he learned last year in the truck that he will be in contention for a win at Bristol. We’re thankful to everyone at Precision Vehicle Logistics, AutoVentive and Worldwide Express for the support.”
Last year, Precision Vehicle Logistics accepted the 30th anniversary Supplier of the Year award from General Motors. The Supplier of the Year award recognizes distinguished global suppliers that exceed GM’s requirements, in turn providing GM customers with innovative technologies and among the highest quality in the automotive industry.
“On behalf of the 1200+ hard-working individuals at Precision Vehicle Logistics, and its family of companies to include AutoVentive, we are very proud to continue the well-deserved celebration of ours and our employee’s accomplishment, in being awarded one of the 30th Annual Supplier of the Year awards from General Motors,” said Jason Wilson, Vice President of Precision Vehicle Logistics. “It is an honor for us to celebrate this accomplishment, in this way, and along with a great organization, and mutual General Motors partner, in Niece Motorsports. We would like to thank General Motors, Niece Motorsports, all their employees, and partners to include Worldwide Express, for this opportunity. We are grateful to have a driver like Tyler to represent our ambition to win, and our brands, as we look forward to him showing these talented asphalt guys a thing or two at Bristol on the dirt.”
Precision Vehicle Logistics is a customer-focused group of professionals committed to service excellence in finished vehicle logistics. Precision offers a unique combination of talented experience, industry-leading software and systems, and a network of partners and resources to deliver customized solutions to the world’s leading automakers.
AutoVentive is an industry-leading Software as a Service (SaaS) applications developer providing customized solutions to the automotive logistics industry. The company is part of Liberty Hill Equity Partners, LLC, a Cincinnati-based private equity firm, and Apex Holdings, LLC, a privately held holding company that operates across a breadth of industries and features an expanding portfolio of companies in the automotive logistics and transportation sectors.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will visit Bristol Motor Speedway for the Weather Guard Truck Race on Dirt on Saturday, April 8. The race will air live on FS1, The Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
About Niece Motorsports:
Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2023, Niece Motorsports enters its eighth season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport. Media Inquiries: media@niecemotorsports.com | www.niecemotorsports.com
About Precision Vehicle Logistics:
We are a customer-focused group of professionals committed to service excellence in finished vehicle logistics. We have a unique combination of talented experience, industry-leading software and systems, and a network of partners and resources to deliver customized solutions to the world’s leading automakers. Visit on the Web: http://www.precisionvehiclelogistics.com
About AutoVentive:
AutoVentive is an industry-leading Software as a Service (SaaS) applications developer providing customized solutions to the automotive logistics industry. The company is part of Liberty Hill Equity Partners, LLC, a Cincinnati-based private equity firm, and Apex Holdings, LLC, a privately held holding company that operates across a breadth of industries and features an expanding portfolio of companies in the automotive logistics and transportation sectors.
Apex Holdings is an active partner, providing critical strategic, financial, and administrative support to the AutoVentive team.
As a company, we have a singular mindset: We want to be the best, positively different, and relentlessly improving. We treat our customers like customers and focus on their challenges and priorities. We provide our customers with a sustainable competitive advantage in yard management operations and logistics through cost-effective and highly reliable solutions. Visit on the Web: https://autoventive.com/
About WWEX: The WWEX group of brands, which comprises Worldwide Express, Unishippers and GlobalTranz, offers full-service logistics expertise to more than 115,000 customers across the country. With access to industry-leading small package, truckload, less-than-truckload and managed transportation solutions, its customers benefit from enhanced visibility and value for their supply chains. The company is the second-largest privately held freight brokerage and largest non-retail UPS Authorized Reseller® in the U.S., with an annual systemwide revenue nearing $5 billion through a network of company-owned, franchise and agent locations. A highly selective carrier portfolio, proprietary technology, unique data assets and business intelligence capabilities provide clients with unmatched options and flexibility to meet their shipping needs. The WWEX Racing initiative was borne of a desire to address the complex but underserved logistic needs of the performance motorsports industry, using the unique combination of capabilities offered by the three brands’ combined 80+ years of insight. To learn more about the WWEX Racing program, visit www.wwexracing.com. For media inquiries, contact racing@wwex.com.
HendrickCars.com to Sponsor Eight-Time Truck Series Winner
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (March 9, 2023) – Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) announced today that William Byron, the most recent winner in the NASCAR Cup Series and KBM alum, will return to the organization to compete in a three-race schedule behind the wheel of the No. 51 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this season. HendrickCars.com, the online home for everything Hendrick Automotive Group, will be the primary sponsor on Byron’s Silverado when he makes his KBM return April 8 for the Truck Race on Dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway and the Ricky Hendrick tribute scheme will also adorn the No. 51 for the races at Darlington Raceway May 12 and North Wilkesboro Speedway May 20. All three races on Byron’s schedule will mark his first starts in the Truck Series at the respective venues.
Byron collected a Truck-Series leading seven victories and 727 laps led driving for KBM in 2016. He earned Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors that season and led the No. 9 team to an owner’s championship with his victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The North Carolina native returned to victory lane in the Truck Series last year leading a race-high 94 laps for Spire Motorsports in the HendrickCars.com Silverado at Martinsville Speedway. Across 26 career starts in NASCAR’s Truck Series, the 25-year-old driver has totaled eight wins, three poles, 821 laps led, 12 top-five and 17 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 10.7.
With his win Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Byron now has five career NASCAR Cup Series victories. In 2022, he tallied a career-high two victories, finished a career-best sixth in the Cup Series championship standings and ranked third in the series with 746 laps led. Across 183 career Cup Series starts he has totaled eight poles, 1650 laps led, 27 top-five and 63 top-10 finishes. Between his time at KBM and graduating to the Cup Series in 2018, Byron captured an Xfinity Series championship and Rookie of the Year Honors for Jr. Motorsports in 2017 after totaling four wins, two poles, 262 laps led, 12 top-five and 22 top-10 finishes.
“I am so excited to return to racing with KBM. I’m looking forward to getting back in their trucks and hopefully having some fun for these three races,” Byron said. “These are three cool race tracks we’re paired up for and I’m interested in running at them since I haven’t raced there in a truck before. “
“Having William return to KBM for three races is going to be beneficial for our whole organization as we continue to build our notebook as a Chevrolet team,” Busch said. “You expect that he’ll compete for the win each time out, he’ll provide valuable feedback to Brian Pattie and our other crew chiefs and when it comes to the development drivers that we’ve had come through KBM, his race preparation is second to none, so he’ll be a valuable asset as a teammate to the young drivers we have in the building.
“Ricky (Hendrick) was a good friend of mine, so seeing one of my trucks hitting the track with the paint scheme he raced with in the Truck Series is going to be really special. We appreciate Rick (Hendrick) and everyone at HendrickCars.com for stepping up and making this deal possible.”
“This is a tremendous opportunity for us to continue building HendrickCars.com into a national brand through our racing partnerships,” said Greg Gach, president of Charlotte-based Hendrick Automotive Group. “We’re excited about supporting Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron, and partnering with Kyle Busch Motorsports and Chevrolet — who each have winning traditions in the Truck Series.”
ABOUT HENDRICK AUTOMOTIVE GROUP:
Representing 131 franchises and 25 manufacturer nameplates from the Carolinas to California, Hendrick Automotive Group is the largest privately held automotive retail organization in the United States. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the company employs more than 10,000 people in its 95 dealership locations, 21 collision centers and four accessories distributor installers in 13 states. For more information, please visit HendrickCars.com.
ABOUT HENDRICKCARS.COM:
HendrickCars.com is the online home for everything Hendrick Automotive Group. Visitors can shop thousands of new or pre-owned vehicles, locate centers for service and collision repair, receive a value to sell or trade their car, chat online with customer service, discover career opportunities, learn more about vehicle protection programs, and explore how the company gives back to the community.
ABOUT KYLE BUSCH MOTORSPORTS:
Since debuting in 2010, Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) has quickly established itself as one of the most successful teams in all of NASCAR. Owned by two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch and fueled by his passion for winning, the organization holds the Craftsman Truck Series records for most career wins (99) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers: Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).
KBM prepares a fleet of race-winning vehicles out of its state-of-the art 77,000-square-foot facility in Mooresville, N.C. Fans can stay up-to-date with all the latest KBM news online at www.KyleBuschMotorsports.com, by liking the team on Facebook (KBMteam) and by following the team on Instagram (KBMteam), and Twitter (@KBMteam).
HAMPTON, Ga. (March 9, 2023) – Race fans at Atlanta Motor Speedway will get unrivaled access to some of the rising stars of NASCAR with the return of the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series autograph session on March 18.
Before they hit the track and race for the Fr8 208 trophy, truck series drivers will be hanging out and signing autographs in front of the AMS Fan Stage in the Fan Zone on Saturday morning of race weekend. The fan-favorite event is returning for the first time since 2019.
“What separates NASCAR from other sports is the unparalleled access our fans get to the athletes, and the truck series autograph session is a great example of that,” said AMS Executive Vice President and General Manager Brandon Hutchison. “We’re thrilled to be bringing this back to the AMS Fan Zone to kick off a great day of family fun during race weekend.”
Fans can claim a wristband to participate in the event free of charge at the AMS Fan Stage while supplies last. The autograph session will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 18. Drivers signing autographs will be on the track just a few hours later for the Fr8 208, which kicks off Atlanta’s same-day NASCAR doubleheader at 2 p.m. followed by the RAPTOR King of Tough 250.
Tickets and camping for the Ambetter Health 400 weekend March 17-19 are available now at www.AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com or by calling 877-9-AMS-TIX.
About the Ambetter Health 400 weekend:
Atlanta’s spring NASCAR weekend is headlined by the Ambetter Health 400 on Sunday, March 19, with intense, door-to-door racing around the historic high banks of Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The race weekend also features Atlanta’s same-day NASCAR doubleheader on Saturday, March 18, 2022. The thrills of the Fr8 208 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race and the RAPTOR King of Tough 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race all happen in one action-packed day that race fans look forward to every year.
More information on the March 17-19, 2023, Ambetter Health 400 weekend and ticket availability can be found online at AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com.
Follow Atlanta Motor Speedway:
Keep track of all of Atlanta Motor Speedway’s events by following on Twitter, Instagram, and become a Facebook fan. Keep up with all the latest news and information with the Atlanta Motor Speedway mobile app.
NASCAR Cup Series Next Race: United Rentals Work United 500 The Place: Phoenix Raceway The Date: Sunday, March 12 The Time: 3:30 p.m. ET The Purse: $7,453,660 TV: FOX, 3 p.m. ET Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Distance: 312 miles (312 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 60), Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 185), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 312)
NASCAR Xfinity Series Next Race: United Rentals 200 The Place: Phoenix Raceway The Date: Saturday, March 11 The Time: 4:30 p.m. ET The Purse: $1,385,615 TV: FS1, 3:30 p.m. ET Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Distance: 200 miles (200 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 45), Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 90), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 200)
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Next Race: Fr8 208 The Place: Atlanta Motor Speedway The Date: Saturday, March 18 The Time: 2 p.m. ET The Purse: $673,693 TV: FS1, 1:30 p.m. ET Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Distance: 207.9 miles (135 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 30), Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 60), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 135)
NASCAR Cup Series
William Byron adds his name to the Playoffs / All-Star Race with Vegas victory
In impressive fashion, Hendrick Motorsports displayed their 1.5-mile package prowess by dominating the NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway finishing 1-2-3 with drivers William Byron, Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman, respectively. The Hendrick contingent managed to lead a combined 241 of the 271 laps completed (88.9%), with Byron scarfing up the lion’s share with 176 laps led out front.
With the big win, Byron is now the third different driver to secure his spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs and also the NASCAR All-Star Race, which will be held at the newly renovated North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 21. Byron joins DAYTONA 500 winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Auto Club Speedway winner Kyle Busch on the series postseason list. The Las Vegas win also jumped Byron up 16 spots in the point standings, he is now ranked 13th.
The victory at Las Vegas was the fifth for William Byron’s NASCAR Cup Series career, and the first at the 1.5-mile track located just outside Sin City. Byron will look to keep the momentum going this weekend at Phoenix Raceway, the track that will play host to the Championship Race later this season. Byron has made 10 career starts at Phoenix, posting five top-five finishes. His average finish at the 1-mile track is 13.0.
Trackhouse Racing looks strong early, both teams in series points top five
Through three races of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, Trackhouse Racing drivers Ross Chastain and Daniel Suárez have been putting up some impressive performances and as a result both are ranked inside the top five in the NASCAR Cup Series driver points standings for the second consecutive week – the first season the organization has had both drivers ranked within the top five in points.
Following Las Vegas, Ross Chastain leads the NASCAR Cup Series points standings by a mere three points over second place Alex Bowman and 21 points up on third place Kevin Harvick. Chastain’s teammate Daniel Suárez is currently ranked fourth in the series standings, only 25 points back from Chastain in the series lead. Suárez is the one of only two drivers to score top-10 finishes in all three races this season – Alex Bowman is the only other driver to accomplish the feat.
Looking ahead to Phoenix, expect the Trackhouse Racing success to continue. In this race last season at Phoenix, Chastain finished runner-up to race winner Chase Briscoe and Suárez finished in the top-10 (ninth).
Chastain has made nine series starts at Phoenix Raceway posting two top-five finishes. His average finish at the 1-mile track is an 18.5.
Suárez has made 12 series starts at Phoenix, and the Monterrey, Mexico native has put up three top-10 finishes.
Chase Elliott sidelined with broken leg, Josh Berry to pilot the No. 9 at Phoenix
Blazoned across nearly all of the motorsports’ media outlet websites this last week was the news of Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott being sidelined after breaking his left tibia in a snowboarding accident. As a result, JR Motorsports’ driver Josh Berry was tapped to pilot the No. 9 Chevrolet at Las Vegas, and after crew chief Alan Gustafson and the No. 9 crew worked feverishly to set the car up for Sunday. Berry finished 29th in his series debut. Now, with Chase Elliott’s length of absence looking to be nearly six weeks, Berry will have another shot at jumping behind the wheel of the No. 9 this weekend at Phoenix Raceway and all oval events Elliott might miss. IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car star Jordan Taylor will drive the No. 9 at Circuit of The Americas.
“We’re focused on getting Chase back to 100%, so we’ll take however much time is necessary and make sure he has the best resources available,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “Josh was impressive this weekend under difficult circumstances, and we look forward to having him drive the oval tracks until Chase is able to return. Jordan is a world-class road racer and has recently been working with our Garage 56 team preparing for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He’ll be able to step in and do a great job at COTA.”
This will be Berry’s NASCAR Cup Series track debut at Phoenix Raceway, but the 32-year-old from Hendersonville, Tennessee has made three NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the 1-mile track posting one top-five finish.
Phoenix Raceway: A beacon of competition in the desert
After three great races to start the season producing three different winners – Rick Stenhouse Jr. (Daytona), Kyle Busch (Auto Club) and William Byron (Las Vegas), the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Phoenix Raceway for the United Rentals Work United 500 this Sunday, March 12 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Phoenix Raceway has hosted 53 NASCAR Cup Series races prior to this weekend producing 26 different pole winners and 28 different race winners.
Ryan Newman (2002, 2003, 2004, 2008) and Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch (2006, 2012, 2016, 2019) lead the Cup Series in poles at Phoenix Raceway with four each. Eleven of the 26 Phoenix Raceway pole winners are active this weekend.
Active Phoenix Pole Winners
Poles
Seasons
Kyle Busch
4
2019, 2016, 2012, 2006
Ryan Blaney
3
2022, 2019, 2017
Joey Logano
2
2022, 2017
Kevin Harvick
2
2018, 2015
Martin Truex Jr
2
2018, 2009
Denny Hamlin
2
2014, 2005
Kyle Larson
1
2021
Chase Elliott
1
2020
Alex Bowman
1
2016
Brad Keselowski
1
2014
AJ Allmendinger
1
2010
Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Phoenix Raceway with nine victories (2006 sweep, 2012 Playoff race, 2013 Playoff race, 2014 sweep, 2015 Spring race, 2016 Spring race, 2018 Spring race) – the most by an active driver at single track. Eight of the 28 NASCAR Cup Series Phoenix Raceway winners are active this weekend.
Team Penske’s Joey Logano is the most recent winner at Phoenix Raceway, grabbing his third career win (2016, 2020, 2022) at the 1-mile track back in November. Stewart-Haas Racing’s Chase Briscoe is the defending winner of the spring Phoenix race. With his win last season, Briscoe became just the third different driver to score their first career Cup Series victory at Phoenix Raceway; joining NASCAR Hall of Famer Alan Kulwicki (November 6, 1988) and Bobby Hamilton (October 29, 1996).
All the on-track action begins with practice on Friday, March 10 from 6:30 p.m. ET followed by Busch Light Pole Qualifying on Saturday, March 11 at 2 p.m. ET. Both events will be televised on FS1.
NASCAR introduces new package for short tracks and road courses
NASCAR has announced updates to the components of the NASCAR Cup Series car for races held at road courses and short tracks (excluding Bristol and Dover). The Road Course and Selected Short Track Package will consist of the following:
2” Spoiler
Remove Engine Panel Strakes
Remove Center and Inner Diffuser Strakes. Only the Outer Diffuser Strakes will remain installed. Spacers will be installed between the diffuser flap and diffuser due to removing the inner diffuser strakes.
Remove Diffuser Fences and Replace with Baseline Fences.
Splitter stuffers will remain unchanged from the current components.
The rules are in place at the following tracks: Charlotte Roval, Chicago Street Course, Circuit of The Americas, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, Martinsville, New Hampshire, North Wilkesboro, Phoenix, Richmond, Sonoma and Watkins Glen.
So that teams and drivers can have additional track time to adjust to these new components, NASCAR has made Phoenix Raceway an ‘extended practice’ weekend. A 50-minute practice has been added, scheduled for Friday from 4:35 p.m. to 5:25 p.m. local time.
“We saw incredible racing throughout the 2022 season, especially at the intermediate racetracks. Our goal is to have the best racing possible everywhere we race, so during the offseason, we went to work on adjustments to strengthen the racing on short tracks and road courses. Adjustments will be made to the car that will create a significant reduction in downforce and based on driver feedback and what we saw from the January test in Phoenix, we’re excited to see the results of these efforts.”
Harvick has two more chances to reach 10 wins at Phoenix Raceway
Statistically, Phoenix Raceway is Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick’s best track, and after announcing that his retirement will be at the end of the season, he has just two chances left to become the sixth different driver in NASCAR Cup Series history to win 10 or more races at a single track.
The 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion, Kevin Harvick, returns to Phoenix Raceway as the series leader in wins at the 1-mile track with nine victories (2006 sweep, 2012 Playoff race, 2013 Playoff race, 2014 sweep, 2015 Spring race, 2016 Spring race, 2018 Spring race). Now, the 47-year-old veteran has the opportunity join an elite list of drivers with 10 or more wins at a single track – Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip, Jimmie Johnson, David Pearson and Dale Earnhardt. NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty holds the NASCAR Cup Series record for the most tracks with 10 or more wins at five different tracks – Martinsville, North Wilkesboro, Richmond, Rockingham and Daytona.
Drivers with 10 or More NASCAR Cup Series Wins at a Single Track
Bristol (12), Martinsville (11), North Wilkesboro (10)
Jimmie Johnson
1
Dover (11)
David Pearson
1
Darlington (10)
Dale Earnhardt
1
Talladega (10)
Harvick’s last win in the NASCAR Cup Series was at Richmond Raceway (8/14/22), a total of 15 races ago. His last win at Phoenix Raceway came in the spring race of 2018. In total, Harvick has made 40 career series starts at Phoenix posting two poles, nine wins, 19 top fives and 29 top 10s. His average finish at the track is 8.650 – best among active drivers. He finished sixth in the Phoenix Spring race last season.
Chase Briscoe looks to rebound from start of 2023 with solid run at Phoenix
Stewart-Haas Racing’s Chase Briscoe is looking to rebound from a slow start to his 2023 NASCAR Cup Series where he hasn’t finished higher than 20th in his first three starts. Now, the Mitchell, Indiana native returns to Phoenix Raceway, where he scored his first career Cup victory, looking to defend his last season win.
Briscoe is currently mired in the lower half of the point standings, in 32nd place with just 28 points this season. In his first three starts this season, he has put up a 35th at Daytona, a 20th at Auto Club and a 28th last weekend at Las Vegas.
Briscoe has made four series starts at Phoenix posting one win and two top fives.
NASCAR Cup Series, Etc.
Sunoco Rookie Class Update – Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs continues to lead the 2023 Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings following the third race of the season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with 53 points, up 18 points over Legacy Motor Club’s Noah Gragson with 35.
Both rookies will be making their NASCAR Cup Series career track debuts this weekend at Phoenix Raceway. But they both should run well this weekend, as both have wins at the track in the NASCAR Xfinity Series last season.
Las Vegas gave some drivers the jump start they needed to get their 2023 season going – This past weekend at Las Vegas, seven of the top-10 finishers in the Pennzoil 400 scored their best finish of the 2023 season; including William Byron (first), Kyle Larson (second), Alex Bowman (third), Bubba Wallace (fourth), Austin Cindric (sixth), Martin Truex Jr. (seventh), Justin Haley (eighth).
Bowman, McDowell are heading back home – The NASCAR fans from Arizona will two drivers from their home state to root for this weekend at Phoenix Raceway in the United Rentals United Work 500 (March 12 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Driver
Cup
Xfinity
Truck
Combined
Alex Bowman
7
1
0
8
Michael McDowell
1
1
0
2
Total
8
2
0
10
A total of 33 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Arizona. Of the 33 Arizona drivers, only two drivers have won a NASCAR national series race – Alex Bowman (eight wins) and Michael McDowell (two wins). Most notably, McDowell won the 2021 DAYTONA 500.
Todd Gilliland to drive No. 15 for Rick Ware Racing / Zane Smith in Front Row Motorsport’s No. 38 – This weekend, fans will find Front Row Motorsport’s driver Todd Gilliland piloting the No. 15 Ford for Rick Ware Racing and in his stead in the FRM No. 38 Ford will be rising star and 2022 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion Zane Smith.
Gilliland is ranked 27th in the NASCAR Cup Series driver standings following Las Vegas. The 22-year-old driver has posted a best finish of 17th this season at Auto Club Speedway. Looking to this weekend, he has made two series starts at Phoenix posting a best finish of 19th at the 1-mile track.
Zane Smith, who currently runs fulltime in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, will be making his second series start of the season this weekend at Phoenix. In his season debut at Daytona, the 23-year-old finished an impressive 13th in the Great American Race. This weekend will be Smith’s Cup Series track debut at Phoenix Raceway.
Lyn St. James Named Honorary Pace Car Driver at Phoenix Raceway – A racing legend and trailblazer will lead the NASCAR Cup Series field to green Sunday at Phoenix Raceway as Lyn St. James is the Honorary Pace Car Driver for Sunday’s United Rentals Work United 500.
“Lyn St. James’ work on and off the track continues to pave the way for women in racing,” said Phoenix Raceway President Latasha Causey. “To say her leadership, legacy and advocacy is inspiring is an understatement. We’re honored she’ll lead the field Sunday as she carries the banner forward for women in our sport.”
St. James has competed in fifteen IndyCar races, including seven Indianapolis 500s. She is the second of nine women who have raced in the Indianapolis 500 and was the first woman to win Indy 500 Rookie of the Year. She has competed, has victories, and set speed records on racetracks around the globe, including the Rolex 24 at Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, and 24 Hours of LeMans. St. James is a Past President of the Women’s Sports Foundation, Women in the Winners Circle founder, an honoree at the 2021 Amelia Island Concours, and recipient of the Spirit of Ford Award. Automotive News selected Lyn as one of the top 100 Women in the Automotive Industry and Sports Illustrated for Women as one of the Top 100 Athletes of the 20th century. She also serves on the ACCUS board, is the North American Regional Representative on the FIA Women in Motorsports Commission and serves on the appeals panels for NASCAR and IndyCar. She is also the co-founder of the not-for-profit Women In Motorsports North America and an inductee of the prestigious Automotive Hall of Fame in 2022.
“This is truly an honor to serve as the Honorary Pace Car Driver at Phoenix Raceway,” St. James said. “I’m hoping my presence and my story will continue to inspire future generations of women who seek more opportunities in racing.”
Get ready for the ‘Go Bowling! PBA NASCAR Invitational at Phoenix Raceway’- The inaugural Go Bowling! PBA NASCAR Invitational will bring the worlds of bowling and auto racing together in a bowling competition at Phoenix Raceway, and will air March 12 at noon ET on FOX Sports’ FS1. The telecast will air prior to the 2023 NASCAR United Rentals Work United 500 on FOX.
Go Bowling!, a proud sponsor of Phoenix Raceway and the PBA, is partnering with QubicaAMF to construct a custom pair of lanes inside The Barn on the grounds of Phoenix Raceway. Fans and guests are invited to attend the event free of charge, which will be taped March 10, and have the chance to bowl on the lanes once competition concludes.
“We are thrilled to extend our relationship with NASCAR with the addition of the made-for-TV event in Phoenix,” said Kevin Krauss, President, Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America (BPAA). “It will demonstrate the fun of bowling to everyone tuned in and also to everyone following their favorite drivers, bowlers and celebrities on social media.”
The Go Bowling! PBA NASCAR Invitational at Phoenix Raceway will feature four professional bowlers—PBA Tour players Kyle Troup and Jesper Svensson and PWBA Tour stars Daria Pajak and Verity Crawley—teaming with four NASCAR drivers and celebrities, including NASCAR’s Aric Almirola and Ryan Preece in doubles competition. In addition to the doubles tournament, the event will feature a special shootout in which celebrities will compete against each other in fast-paced bowling competition.
Kimi Räikkönen returns to NASCAR with Trackhouse’s PROJECT91 at COTA – Trackhouse Entertainment Group announced that 2007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen will return to the NASCAR Cup Series on March 26 at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas to race PROJECT91’s Chevrolet.
The race will mark Räikkönen’s second NASCAR Cup Series race after debuting with PROJECT91 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International on Aug. 21 last year.
“I had a fantastic time in NASCAR,” said Räikkönen. “There was a lot to learn in a very short amount of time, but everyone was very helpful, the competition was a big challenge. This time I get to race on a track I am familiar with so there won’t be as steep of a learning curve. I want to have fun, but also do as well as we can.”
Unlike the Watkins Glen track, Räikkönen is familiar with COTA, racing on the road course eight times during his Formula One career. One of Räikkönen’s 21 Formula One victories, and most recent, came at COTA on Oct. 21, 2018.
Chevrolet off to a fast start winning first three races of 2023 – The first three races of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season has only seen one manufacturer in Victory Lane – Chevrolet.
In the Modern Era (1972-2023), a manufacturer has only swept a season’s first three races five times and Chevrolet drivers are responsible for four of them – Chevrolet (1995, 2001, 2010, 2023) and Ford (1992).
This season, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won the Daytona 500, Kyle Busch won at Auto Club Speedway and William Byron won last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
A manufacturer has only swept the first four races of a NASCAR Cup Series season in the Modern Era three times – Chevrolet (1995, 2001) and Ford (1992).
The record for the most consecutive wins by a manufacturer to start at NASCAR Cup Series season in the Modern Era is nine straight victories by Ford in the 1992 season. The most consecutive victories to start a Cup Series season by Chevrolet was seven straight wins in the 1995 season – second-most in the Modern Era.
NASCAR Next Gen showcasing its performance – Through the first three races of the season, the NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen car has been showcasing its performance and the stats are backing up all the great action on the track.
The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season has produced 261 Green Flag Passes for the Lead in the first three points-paying races of the year (Daytona 204 GFPL, Fontana 35 GFPL, Las Vegas 22 GFPL) – the series-most through the first three races of a season since the Loop Data statistic was initially tabulated in 2007 (last 17 seasons).
In a year-over-year comparison, the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season with 261 Green Flag Passes for the Lead, has produced an increase of 34.5% over the 2022 season’s first three races with 194 Green Flag Passes for the Lead.
The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season has produced 18,698 Total Green Flag Passes in the first three points-paying races of the year (Daytona 11,538 GFP, Fontana 3,512 GFP and Las Vegas 3,648 GFP) – the second-most through the first three races of a season since the Loop Data statistic was initially tabulated in 2007 (last 17 seasons); behind only the 2015 season with 19,240 Total Green Flag Passes.
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill wins big in Las Vegas
Austin Hill was locked-in and focused last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and it paid off in a big way. In a race that that seemed to be in rookie Chandler Smith’s reach, Hill was able to pass him up as the cars approached the white flag and hold the lead through to the end.
This was Hill’s second victory of the season, his fourth in his Xfinity Series career and his first at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Hill now heads to into the next two races of the Xfinity Series, Phoenix Raceway and Atlanta Motor Speedway, with the odds for another win in his favor.
As a rookie last season, he made his first start at Phoenix Raceway in the Xfinity Series in the spring, posting a 17th-place finish. In his second stint at Phoenix in the November Championship Race, he took what he learned in his first go-around and fought his way to a top-10 finish.
At Atlanta Motor Speedway, his home track, he posted a runner-up finish in the March race and ultimately pulled off a win when the series was there in the summer.
With two wins already under his belt this season (Daytona, Las Vegas), Hill has plenty of time to beat his own record for most wins in one season, which is currently four in the 2019 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season.
Phoenix Raceway welcomes the NASCAR Xfinity Series
After a battle in the desert last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway that saw Austin Hill snag the checkered flag for the second time this season, the NASCAR Xfinity Series will now be heading to Phoenix Raceway for the United Rentals 200 on Saturday, March 11 at 4:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR radio.
There have been 42 NASCAR Xfinity Series races at the Arizona track, producing 23 different race winners and 22 different pole winners. Eleven races have been won from the pole or first starting position, most recently by Ty Gibbs in last season’s Championship Race.
Although Gibbs is the most recent pole winner, Kyle Busch is the most decorated driver in the Xfinity Series at Phoenix Raceway. He holds the qualifying record with a speed of 138.504 mph, leads the Xfinity Series in poles (10), has posted the most wins (11), top 10s (20), lead lap finishes (23), and is tied with Kevin Harvick for most top fives (17).
Xfinity Series drivers will kick off their weekend with practice on Saturday, March 11 at 12:35 p.m. ET followed by qualifying at 1:05 p.m. ET on FS1.
Busch looks to score Xfinity record for most wins at a single track at Phoenix
Leading the NASCAR Xfinity Series in wins at Phoenix Raceway is Kaulig Racing’s Kyle Busch, who will be pulling double duty and making his second Xfinity Series start of the season in the No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet this weekend. In the process, Busch will have the opportunity to break the tie with NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin for the most wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at a single track if he wins this weekend at Phoenix. Martin and Busch are currently tied for series most wins a single track at 11 wins each – Busch (Phoenix Raceway) and Martin (Rockingham Speedway).
In his 24 starts at Phoenix, Busch has posted 11 wins (2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013 sweep, 2014, 2015, 2016 sweep, 2019), 17 top fives and 20 top 10s.
His most recent Xfinity Series stint at the track was in 2020, where he won the pole and ultimately finished third.
Winners Galore: Xfinity Drivers to watch at Phoenix
With Phoenix Raceway serving as home of the 2023 Championship Race, it is a track that all drivers hope to conquer – and three fulltime Xfinity Series drivers entered in this weekend’s United Rentals 200 have done just that – Justin Allgaier, Brandon Jones and Daniel Hemric.
JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier has made a name for himself at the one-mile track, posting two wins (2017, 2019), nine top fives and 17 top 10s in his 25 Phoenix starts. In his most recent appearance, he posted a third-place finish.
Allgaier’s JRM teammate, Brandon Jones, added his name to this list of drivers who have found Victory Lane at Phoenix Raceway in 2020. Jones has made 14 starts at Phoenix, posting one win (2020), three top fives and six top 10s. In last year’s Spring Phoenix race, he posted a runner-up finish.
Kaulig Racing’s Daniel Hemric heads into the weekend looking to post his second win at Phoenix Raceway after taking the checkered flag at the 2021 Xfinity Series Championship Race. In his 10 series starts at Phoenix, he has posted one win (2021), three top fives and seven top 10s. In both Phoenix races last season, he posted an eighth-place finish.
NASCAR Xfinity Series, Etc.
Carson Hocevar to make Xfinity Series debut with Spire Motorsports – NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series regular Carson Hocevar will be making his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut later this season with Spire Motorsports.
He will post his first start in the No. 77 Chevrolet at Dover Motor Speedway on April 29 and is also set to get behind the wheel at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, Michigan International Speedway, Darlington Raceway and Bristol Motor Speedway.
Hendrick Motorsports to enter four Xfinity races in 2023 – For the second consecutive season, Hendrick Motorsports will run a part-time Xfinity Series schedule in the No. 17 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet.
The team will kick off the four-race stint at COTA with William Byron. Kyle Larson will be behind the wheel at Sonoma followed by Alex Bowman at Watkins Glen International. Larson will pilot the last race in September at Darlington Raceway. Crew chiefs Greg Ives and Kevin Meendering will oversee the effort.
Hendrick Motorsports has posted 26 wins and one driver’s championship (2003) in the Xfinity Series.
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Kyle Busch hits the jackpot in Vegas
NASCAR Cup Series two-time champion Kyle Busch made his first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start of the 2023 season last weekend at his home track of Las Vegas Motor Speedway and to no one’s surprise, gambled his way into Victory Lane.
Busch has made several starts and posted multiple wins at the Las Vegas track across all three series, but he’s had the most success in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. In his seven series starts, he has won the pole three times and has posted four wins (2018, 2019, 2020, 2023), six top fives and seven top 10s.
His win last weekend widened his lead as the winningest driver in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series with 63 wins and his lead as the driver with the most NASCAR National Series wins (225), after surpassing the long-standing record held by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty (200).
Truckin’ in Atlanta
After an action-packed weekend in Las Vegas, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series teams will head home before gearing up for the Fr8 208 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday, March 18 at 2 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR radio.
There have been 21 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races at the 1.5-mile track, producing 15 different race winners and 12 different pole winners. Five races have been won from the pole or first starting position, most recently by Christopher Bell in 2017.
Kyle Busch has made the most trips to Victory Lane (six) and has also posted the most top fives (nine). Ron Hornaday Jr. and Mike Skinner are tied for most poles at the track (three) while Matt Crafton holds the record for most top 10s (11).
Corey Heim is Atlanta Motor Speedway’s most recent winner in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series after snagging the lead from then teammate Chandler Smith in the final lap to get the victory.
Zane Smith riding the wave
Front Row Motorsports’ Zane Smith made a name for himself last season with his season-opening win at Daytona and his victory in the Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway.
Smith made sure to ride that momentum into the 2023 season and pulled off yet another season-opening win at Daytona and a runner-up finish last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Now, as the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series gears up for their next race in two weeks at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Smith can be sure that his name is on everyone’s minds as a possible winning contender.
Although he’s only made three starts at the 1.5-mile Atlanta track, he’s posted two top fives and three top 10s. Last season, he even managed to work his way up to a fifth-place finish after starting in the 25th position.
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Etc.
Sunoco Rookie class update – The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series rookie class now has two races marked off and they’re all sitting close in the standings. Let’s take a look at how they’re sitting as the head into race number three of the season:
Nick Sanchez currently leads the rookies with 31 points. He won the pole in the season-opener at Daytona and has posted a best-finish of 26th at Daytona. He was caught in an incident at Las Vegas and finished 30th. Sanchez will be making his series track debut at Atlanta next week.
Jake Garcia takes the second-place spot just four points behind Sanchez (27) after he won the Sunoco Rookie of the Race Award at Las Vegas for his 10th-place finish. Garcia will look to make his first series career start at Atlanta Motor Speedway in next week.
Just one point behind Garcia is Rajah Caruth (26). He’s posted 29th-place finishes in both races this season. He will be making his first start at Atlanta Motor Speedway in two weeks.
Coming in with 25 points is Daniel Dye. He posted a 19th-place finish last weekend in Las Vegas where he led for five laps. Like his classmates, he will be making his first start at the 1.5-mile Atlanta track in a couple weeks.
Rounding out the rookie class is Bret Holmes who sits with nine points and his made one series career start at Atlanta Motor Speedway (2021), finishing in 32nd.
Primary Races in Truck and Associate in Cup Series Highlight Season
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (March 7, 2023) – Rural Telecommunication of America, Inc. (RTA) is bringing “fast” to Zane Smith in the 2023 season. RTA’s gigFAST INTERNET® is again a partner of Smith and the Front Row Motorsports (FRM) team this season but is increasing its presence with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion.
The RTA gigFAST INTERNET colors will be the primary scheme of Smith and the No. 38 Ford F-150 truck team at the Darlington (S.C.) Raceway in May and again at the Kansas Speedway in September. The company will debut its 2023 scheme leading into Darlington.
The fastest, affordable, and most reliable internet for rural America has also added a full season associate sponsorship to the No. 38 Ford Mustang driven by Smith and Todd Gilliland. Smith will make his debut in the No. 38 Ford Mustang this weekend at the Phoenix Raceway and again at select Cup Series races later this year.
RTA gigFAST INTERNET joined Smith and FRM last year and are looking forward to being part of Smith’s championship run and joining the NASCAR Cup Series.
“We are extremely excited this year to continue our partnership with Zane and Front Row Motorsports,” said Donald Workman, Chairman, RTA. “Zane is an extremely talented driver and incredible person on and off the track. He exhibits all the qualities that RTA is built upon. We are so pleased to be a part of his racing family to support him and the team.”
RTA is a rural internet service provider based in Houston, Texas. The company is on a mission to bring affordable gigFAST INTERNET to America’s rural communities. Both RTA and Smith share the need for speed and passion for connecting rural America.
“RTA is a perfect partner for our sport as they are leading the way in bringing high-speed internet to NASCAR fans all over rural America,” said Smith “Speed and technology is what drives the sport and I trust their gigFAST service to help me win races. We use the RTA gigFAST INTERNET in our race hauler in the truck series to provide us the reliability and speed we need to deliver the data to win. I must thank them for all their support.”
RTA’s gigFAST NETWORK® provides affordable gigFAST INTERNET, VOICE, and TV to rural America; enabling businesses and residents gigFAST INTERNET for their entertainment, e-learning, telemedicine and telework. Learn more at https://www.rtatel.com
About Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series team from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.
Friday night’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was the season debut for Lawless Alan after a qualifying mishap in Daytona two weeks prior. But, Alan looked in form as he qualified 21st and climbed his way into just outside the top-15 early in the event.
Alan and the No. 45 team made big strides through the first stage ultimately finishing 20th before the stage break. Under this caution, Alan would make his way down pit road for four tires and fuel.
Just 17 laps after the green-white checkered flag flew, Alan was turned by another truck which would create significant damage to the rear-end of his AUTOParkit Silverado. Although the damage wasn’t catastrophic, the damage hindered the performance of the truck, causing him to go multiple laps down throughout the remainder of the race.
Ultimately, Alan was able to make it through a caution-free final stage for a 20th-place finish at Las Vegas.
Alan on Friday Night’s Race at Las Vegas: “It’s obviously not how we wanted our day to go. I feel like we had the speed; just got caught up in the mess. I think if we take the feel that we have with this new package and move on, we will be fast at the other 1.5-mile tracks.”
About Niece Motorsports:
Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2023, Niece Motorsports enters its eighth season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.
AUTODockit delivers fully automated boat storage. Boats are safely stored indoors in a rack and rail system, protected within a site-specific hurricane-protected structure. Vessels are placed in Rack Storage structures of unoccupied space driven by industrial automation technology. AUTODockit uses the same trusted and proven modular scalable architecture from AUTOParkit™ a market leader in Autonomous Parking Systems. AUTODockit uses all electric motors and does NOT use forklifts, overhead cranes, robotics, hydraulics, or pneumatics. Travel lanes are significantly reduced in AUTODockit sites allowing increased storage capacity and maximizing revenue
AUTODockit provides two solutions: Coastal and Inland. AUTODockit Costal lifts boats directly from the water while AUTODockit Inland is for trailered boats.
About AUTOParkit:
-AUTOParkit™ designs, manufactures, and constructs fully automated parking systems for new and existing buildings. AUTOParkit system structural steel and modular design can provide double the capacity of a traditional parking garage, providing up to 17 LEED points and drastically reducing construction time.
-AUTOParkit automated systems are 40 percent less expensive to operate, safer for the user and reduces carbon emissions associated with parking by more than 80 percent. AUTOParkit’s charging pallets provided by AUTOChargit, are a fast and convenient way of charging EVs and Hybrids. AUTOChargit’s patented technology allows for shuffling charged vehicles cutting infrastructure costs by up to 80 percent.
Coming off a solid start to the year at Daytona, Hocevar was optimistic about the fortune Las Vegas Motor Speedway would hold for him. Fortunately for the Portage, Michigan driver, he was able to capture a seventh-place finish from his 8th-place starting position.
In typical Las Vegas fashion, the race produced calamity at times, but also big strategy calls throughout the event. Hocevar, who pitted under a caution midway through the first stage, was able to capture 8th-place stage points in Stage One.
From there, Hocevar stayed out under the stage break allowing him to take the lead on the ensuing restart, where he was able to capture the Stage Two victory.
After dominating the second stage, Hocevar unfortunately wasn’t able to make it passed 7th as the final stage went caution-free. Through a sequence of green flag pit stops, Hocevar was able to secure a 7th-place finish in Sin City.
Hocevar on Friday’s Race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: “It’s good to have that Playoff Point in the bank to carry with us throughout the year; it could play a big role late in the season. We needed clean air to contend with [Kyle Busch]. These Worldwide Express guys worked really hard on bringing this new truck and package to the track and the WWEX Racing blue colors look good up front.”
About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2023, Niece Motorsports enters its eighth season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.
About Worldwide Express: The WWEX group of brands, which comprises Worldwide Express, Unishippers and GlobalTranz, offers full-service logistics expertise to more than 115,000 customers across the country. With access to industry-leading small package, truckload, less-than-truckload and managed transportation solutions, its customers benefit from enhanced visibility and value for their supply chains. The company is the second-largest privately held freight brokerage and largest non-retail UPS Authorized Reseller® in the U.S. , with an annual systemwide revenue nearing $5 billion through a network of company-owned, franchise and agent locations. A highly selective carrier portfolio, proprietary technology, unique data assets and business intelligence capabilities provide clients with unmatched options and flexibility to meet their shipping needs. The WWEX Racing initiative was borne of a desire to address the complex but underserved logistic needs of the performance motorsports industry, using the unique combination of capabilities offered by the three brands’ combined 80+ years of insight. To learn more about the WWEX Racing program, visit www.wwexracing.com. For media inquiries, contact racing@wwex.com.
